On the SNY.tv Metro Hockey Podcast, Jeff Z. Klein wondered about how much of an impact the power play actually has on a game.
Klein says:
the fact is, statistically, the power play just isn’t that important. Two-thirds of the game and two-thirds of the goals are scored at even strength and even strength is what wins. You never hear about how a team is doing at even strength and historically there is a very close correspondence between a team’s record and how they do at even strength.
Power Play stuff is all over the map. Last year the Bruins won the Stanley Cup and didn’t score a power play goal until the third round of the playoffs. It’s important and nice to have power play success, but it is way way down the list behind how you do at even strength
The Rangers rank 25th in the league in PP%.
Last season Boston finished 20th in the league on the PP and then had an 11.4% conversion rate in 25 playoff games.
The Rangers rank fourth in the league in 5 on 5 goals for/against ratio and are second in the league in goals against.
